CPU Problems

The central processing unit (CPU) does most of the data processing in the computer, making it an integral system of the computer system. There are some common computer symptoms that are caused by CPU issues; however, CPU failure is much less common than other types of issues that come along with being a computer owner. It can be difficult to determine if a faulty CPU or motherboard is the culprit of your computer problem, but if you rule out other issues and are still left with a problem, it is likely that an issue with the CPU is probably the culprit.

Computer freezes, error messages, strange sounds and the inability to turn the computer on or off can all be indicators of CPU problems. Power failures or surges or electrical problems are the most common causes of CPU issues. Purchasing a surge protector is one of the main things that you can do to prevent CPU damage. CPU damage can be costly because it often requires complete replacement of your computer or minimally the CPU unit.

A power failure will most likely produce one of the following problems that could damage the CPU and will prevent your computer from working properly:

• Corruption of the operating system, motherboard, memory, power supply or CPU
• Only the fan runs when you turn on your computer
• The computer freezes up randomly
• The PC randomly shuts itself off

All of these scenarios are probably indicators of power supply issues or CPU problems. Start by checking the power supply and ensure that everything is connected properly, and then try restarting your PC. If this does not work, you may be looking at motherboard or CPU damage, which will usually require the expertise of a trained technician to rectify.

CPU issues are fatal to your system. Often the symptoms of errors or problems with your computer can be one of many things. Ruling out the small things can help to better determine if the CPU has been damaged. If you have had a power failure or do not have a power strip with a surge protector during a power loss, it is very possible that there is serious damage to your system. Ruling out corrupted memory, software installation problems and viruses before consulting with a computer repair technician may save you a few dollars in diagnostic costs.

The acrord32.exe Application Error

Most people are familiar with Adobe Acrobat Reader, which was developed by Adobe in the 1990’s to access and read PDF, or portable document format, files. PDF is a universal computer text file format that was designed by Adobe that preserves a document and allows it to be read by any computer that has the Adobe program installed. The acrord32.exe application error is usually a fault of Adobe Acrobat Reader and typically occurs because this is such a large program.

The acrord32.exe file is a file that automatically runs on your system whenever you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader to view a PDF file. In order for the file to be loaded and viewed properly, acrord32.exe needs to be intact and running properly. Sometimes, internal issues occur that cause the acrord32.exe to send an error message, such as acrord32.exe application error.

When you open Adobe Acrobat Reader, acrord32.exe automatically runs, and when you close Adobe Acrobat Reader, it should automatically shut down after the program closes. This process of running and stopping should start and end automatically, without any command from the user. The acrord32.exe file is very large and takes up a great deal of memory. In older computers or computers without sufficient memory, using Adobe can take up a great deal of computer memory space, causing computer freezes, slowing the computer down or generating an acrord32.exe application error. If you frequently use PDF files, increasing your memory is the best option to eliminating the frustration of this error.

If there appears to be problems running Adobe Acrobat Reader or the acrord32.exe file does not shut down when you close out Adobe, this is a sign of a potential problem such as virus. What sometimes happens is that a virus may pose as an acrord32.exe file and attempt to infect your computer system. If you are seeing repeated issues when using Adobe or with your computer in general, like slow running programs or frequent error messages, you may have a virus. At this stage it is important to run a virus scan on your system.

If you are confident that there is nothing critically wrong with your computer and want to eliminate this error from randomly popping up, this can be done in a few small steps. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click Edit on the menu bar. Select Preferences and under the Categories heading, select Internet. Where the web browser option box is located, uncheck the box that says Display PDF in Browser. Close Adobe Reader and restart your computer. By doing this, the reader will not be displayed within your Internet browser automatically, which can then improve connection times greatly.

But I Didn't Get an Error Message?

What might just be worse than getting an error code is getting absolutely nothing at all from your computer when you go to boot up? If you get a hum, a fan or even a little yellow light on the monitor that is at least a small sign of life on the inside. Sometimes these little computer sounds may be accompanied by an error message such as no signal received. It is safe to assume that any of the issues described above are the equivalent of some type of error message; they just are not displayed in the same way.

Here are a few of the common errors that may not be accompanied by a specific error message:

• The computer boots up and then freezes.
• Hum from hard drive, but no signs from the monitor or display.
• No signal message on the monitor.
• Yellow light on the monitor, but nothing on the screen.
• Computer beeps, but will not turn on.

Before rushing to the repair shop, there are a few simple steps you can take to try and identify and, hopefully correct, some of these common issues. Any of these issues may signify something as simple as a problem with your power supply connection to more serious overheating, dusty or dirty hardware or a problem with the hard drive. At the absolute worst, it may be a problem with the motherboard, which can be identified by a computer technician.

Start by removing the power supply and then push the power button to ON for about 30 seconds to one minute. Release it and then reconnect the power supply cord. If this works, it may have been a loose connection with the power supply. While you are at it, check all of your connections and ensure that they are tightly connected.

If the freezing up continues to occur, listen to see if the fan is running. When the computer gets too hot, or the fan stops running properly, it will cause the computer to overheat and shut down automatically. You can try taking off the casing and checking the fan for dust or buildup. The fan may need to be replaced if it does not appear to be running or if freezing continues. You can also add an external fan if your computer is overheating but the fan is still running. This will help but in the long run, the best bet is to replace the fan inside the computer.

Dusty hardware is another common cause for problems. If you have memory sticks or removable cards take them out and dust them off. Check to make sure nothing has spilled on them or gotten them wet. After cleaning off any hardware, reboot the computer to see if this has fixed the problem.

Continued issues with freezing up may also be memory or RAM related. If you have recently installed new software, try uninstalling it and see if this eliminates the freezing up of the computer. If it does, you should look to increase the RAM on your computer by adding memory before reinstalling the software as the RAM may not be sufficient to run certain programs.

If you have tried all of the steps above and nothing appears to correct the issues that you are having, it is best to contact a computer repair shop to identify the root cause and the best method of repair or replacement.